WARRIORS lost in the Premiership for the first time in five months despite a brave effort at the home of defending champions Wasps.

They had matched the hosts for more than half the game and, but for a scrappy try just after the break, might well have clung onto their unbeaten record.

Wasps looked to dominate the game right from the off and it appeared ominous for Worcester when they conceded the first try of the game in the second minute.

A tap and go by Matt Dawson started the move and hooker Raphael Ibanez ended it when he crashed over.

Mark van Gisbergen kicked the conversion to equal Jonny Wilkinson's Premiership record of 28 consecutive place kicks.

But, if the Wasps pack thought they were going to have it all their own way, they were given a quick reminder of the power of their Worcester counterparts who answered back almost immediately.

Heavy pressure in the corner finally culminated in a Pat Sanderson score that delighted the travelling fans.

Shane Drahm had endured a miserable day with the boot in last week's victory over Saracens but he immediately settled his nerves with a fine kick from the corner to add the conversion.

Worcester didn't play like a team overawed by opponents who have collected five domestic and European trophies since moving to High Wycombe in 2002.

Nicolas Le Roux showed flashes of the brilliance that made him such a hit with the Sixways crowd on his debut last week but even his skill was not sufficient to breach Wasps' star-studded back line.

Worcester were gifted a penalty in front of the posts when Dawson took a swing at Chris Horsman but this time Drahm could not find the target.

The diminutive outside-half finally gave Warriors the lead on 31 minutes with a penalty from considerably further out.

And Drahm showed his all-round ability when he played the pass of the match to Jonny Hylton wide on the right.

Despite winning the scrum and having it reset four times, Worcester couldn't prosper and the penalty was eventually awarded the other way.

Van Gisbergen's record-breaking penalty attempt on the stroke of half-time was wide and Warriors went into the interval three points ahead.

But three minutes into the second period Wasps made the decisive breakthrough.

Drahm's kick was charged down by Stuart Abbott and though he was beaten for pace by Hylton, the Worcester wing scuffed his attempt at kicking clear and Tom Voyce was on hand to cash in.

Van Gisbergen re-found his kicking touch and, along with the conversion, scored two quick penalties to put the hosts 10 points in front.

On the hour mark, Joe Worsley charged through to put another try on the board and give the champions a considerable cushion.

Even the introduction of giant lock Tim Collier could not bring Worcester the try they craved and Richard Birkett turned the ball over as the visitors seemed destined to pounce.

They were rewarded for their efforts when Le Roux skipped away for the first try scored by a Worcester back this season but that effort was cancelled when Tim Payne stormed over in injury-time for Wasps.

WORCESTER: Le Roux, Hylton, Rasmussen, Lombard (Truman), Hinshelwood (Delport), Drahm, Gomarsall (Powell), Windo, Van Niekerk (C Fortey), Horsman (Taumoepeau), Murphy (Collier), Gillies, Vaili, Sanderson, Horstmann.

ATTENDANCE: 8,720.

REFEREE: Sean Davey.

MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Windo.